Safety device for homes



1933- Y. SPIEGEL SAFETY DEVICE FOR HOMES Filed May 6, 1937'IIIIIIIIIIIII/III INVENTOR Yum Smasu. BY

ATTORNEY Pasta Feb. 22,1938

UNITED STATES P T NT OFFICE 2,1o9,3s1 SAFETY DEVICE FOR noMEs YettaSpiegel, New York, N. Y. Application May 6, 1937, Serial No. 141,125

40lalms.

This invention'relates to new and useful improvements in a safety devicefor homes. -More specifically, the invention proposes the constructionof a safety device which is adapted to be used in conjunction with anentrance to a home, or building, which is operated by the interruptionof a beam passing from a light to a photoelectric cell.

Still further the invention proposes the use of a camera for taking thepicture of an unauthorized person who passes between the light and thephoto-electric cell.

Still further the invention provides-for the use of a photo-electriccell, or an ultraviolet ray dell vice, for operating the shutter of saidcamera.

As a further object of the invention it is proposed to mount the cameraupon a drop shelf having an electric holding device for fixedly holdingthe shelf in a horizontal position and operative when said beam isbroken to drop said camera.

As a further object of the invention it is proposed to provide a chutesystem below said drop shelf for conveying the camera from the dropshelf to a point of safety to prevent the intruder from destroying thepicture which has been taken.

Still further the invention provides for the use of a photofiash bulb orsimilar device for illuminating the dark hallway to permit the camera toadequately take thepictureof the intruder.

Still further the invention provides for a detector for controlling theoperation of the camera, the drop shelf and the photoilash bulb.

.F or further comprehension of the. invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are; more particularly setforth.

- Inthe accompanying drawing forming a materiaipart of this disclosure:

- Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view of a hallway provided with a safetydevice according to this in- 'vention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of Fig. l. 1

E18. 3 is a schematic wiring diagram, of the device.

' The safety device for homes according to this invention, is intendedto be used in conjunction with hallways or other passages III. A cameraII is trained on the entrance ill to the passage In which has anelectrically operated flashlight bulb I! for illuminating said passageto permit the camera to take a picture. An electric operator I3 5 isprovided for operating the shutter of the camera l l and a circuit isprovided for controlling the operation of the flashlight l2 and thecamera op-' erator l3. A detector is provided for controlling saidcircuit operative automatically upon the presence of an unauthorizedperson in the pas- 5 sage.

The hallway or other passage I0 is provided with an opening or entranceat one end adapted to be closed by the door Ill. The hall III has sidewalls Hi and I II. The wall lfl is provided with 10 a. wall alcove or anopening III? in which the camera I I is mounted upon a. shelf or doorI6. An electric light bulb I4 is mounted on the wall [0 inside of thedoor l0, and a cooperative photoelectric cell i 5 is mounted on theopposite wall Ill l6 and is adapted to operate a circuit for controllinga second circuit which operates the camera I I and the flashlight I2.

The camera II is placed on the drop door 16 which is hingedly mounted atone of its ends It 20 by means of a hinge l1. and has the other of itsends li engaging a hook I8 for holding it in a horizontal position tosupport said camera within the opening I 0 with its'shutter directedtoward the entrance to the passage. The operator I! for the shutter ofthe camera II is provided with an iron piece Ill" which is adapted to bedrawn toward the core I3 of an electro-magnet l3 which causes theoperator l3 to operate the shutter when the electro-magnet has beenenergized. When 30 this electro-magnet has been energized it will drawthe contact l9 toward the contact l3 to pivot the operator l9 causingthe shutter to operate.

The electrically operated flash I2 is su r d 35 on the wall III by aplatform I! and is connected in the same circuit with the electro-magnetl3 and is adapted to illuminate simultaneously with the energizing ofthe electro-magnet l3 to illuminate the hallway to permit the camera toade- 4 quately take a picture. A means is provided in the circuit todrop the camera II and convey it to a point of safety simultaneous withthe operation of the electro-magnet l3 and the flashlight l2. Morespecifically, this means includes an elec- 45 tro-magnet 2| having acore 2i which is adapted to draw an iron piece IS on the hook l8 towardsitself to disengage the hook i 8 from the end 16 of the shelf IE topermit itto swing downward and drop the camera upon the chute system 22.The 50 other end l8 of the hook I! is mounted on one of the walls of theopening l0 and the hook is constructed of resilient material.

When the door It drops, the camera will fall upon a member 22 and slidedown this member and drop off the end on to a second member 22 directedin the opposite direction from the member 22 to convey the camerabeneath the member 22 to prevent the intruder from reaching the cameraafter the picture has been taken. The end 22 of the member 22 isadjacent an opening Hi in the wall Iii which is provided with a door 23which is hlngedly mounted at one of its sides upon hinges 2. The otherof its sides is provided with a. lock 25 for normally holding the doorclosed and which may be opened by an authorized person to permit thecamera to be taken off the chute system 22. whose picture has been takencannot get the camera because the door 23 is normally locked and themember 22 prevents him from putting his arm through the opening I andretrieving the camera after it has been dropped by the shelf l6.

Referring to Fig. 3 which is a schematic wiring diagram, it will benoted that a time recording device 12', the electro-magnet l3", theelectromagnet 2| and the flashlight I2 are connected in parallel in acircuit 3|, which is provided with a source of power 32 and a switch 33of a' relay 3 for-closing the circuit 31 and simultaneously energizingthe electro-magnet l3 to operate the camera, and energize theelectro-magnet 2| to release the'shelf-IB, drop the camera, and toprovide power to illuminate the flashlight l2 to assist the camera ingetting the picture of the intruder and simultaneously to record thetime.

The detector controlling the circuit 3i includes the photo-electric cellIS, a source of power 34, and a relay 35 connected in series in acircuit 36 which is adapted to be disturbed when the intruder passesbetween the light I4 and a photoelectric cell l5 to energize the relay35 to pivot the arm 36 of the relay 35. This arm 36 is provided at oneof its ends with an iron piece 36' which: is adapted to be drawn towardthe core of the relay 35 to swing its other end provided with thecontact 36 to engage the contact 33' of the switch 33 to complete thecircuit M.

A switch 31 is connected in the circuit "and is concealed from view inany appropriate position and which is normally in a closed position topermit the photo-electric cell to operate as described above. When anauthorized person enters the door ill be will know where the switch 31has. been concealed and will open the switch before passing thephoto-electric cell, to open the circuit 36 preventing the camera fromtaking a picture.

It is to be understood that this device may be used at any door, windowor other place, also that the photo-electriccell arrangement may be usedto operate one or more cameras positioned at different places or locatedadjacent to each other and set at different angles so as to obtain thevarious exposures of the intruder.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim'asinew, and desire tosecure by Un ted States Letters Patent is:-

The intruder 1. In combination with a passage for persons, a drop shelffor supporting a camera adapted to be trained upon said passage, anelectric holding device for fixedly holding said shelf, and a chutesystem for conveying said camera. to a place of safety upon dropping ofsaid shelf, an electric operator for said camera and a circuit forcontrolling the said holding device and said electric operator, and adetector for controlling said circuit.

2. In combination with a passage for persons, a drop shelf forsupporting a camera adapted to be trained upon said passage, an electricholding device for fixedly holding said shelf, anda chute system forconveying said camera to a place of safety upon dropping of said shelf,an electric operator for said camera and a circuit for controlling thesaid hoiding device and said electric operator, and a detector forcontrolling said circuit, said circuit for controlling said holdingdevice comprising a source of power, a switch, an electro-magnet, a hookengaging one endof said drop shelf for supporting said shelf in ahorizontal position, and contacts on the adjacent faces of saidelectro-magnet and said hook for pivoting said hook when saidelectro-magnet has been energized to disengage it from the end of saidshelf to permit said shelf to pivot and drop said camera.

3. In combination with a passage for persons, a drop shelf forsupporting a camera adapted to be trained upon said passage, an electricholding device for fixedly holding said shelf, and a chute system forconveying said camera to a place of safety upon dropping of said shelf,an electric operator for said camera and a circuit for conoperator, anda detector for controlling said circuit, said chute system comprising amember mounted below said drop shelf and upon which said camera isadapted to fall, and a second member mounted below said member anddirected in safety upon dropping of said shelf, an electric operator forsaid camera and 'a circuit for controlling the said holding device andsaid electric operator, and a detector for controlling said circuit,said chute system comprising a member mounted below said drop shelf andupon which said camera is adapted to fall, and a second member mountedbelow said member and directed in the opposite direction from saidmember and upon which said camera is adapted to fall after sliding thelength of said member to be conveyed to a point of safety at the end ofsaid second member, a pivotally mounted door at the lower end of saidsecond member held in a normally closed position by a lock andwhich maybe opened by'an authorized person to permit said person to retrieve saidcamera.

A SPIEGEL.

, trolling the said holding device and said electric

